Self-sealing container



Aug. 29, 1961 D. w. DEHONEY, JR

' SELF-SEALING CONTAINER Filed March 25, 1959 IN V EN TOR. DW- DEHONEYJ:

The present invention relates to a new and novel selfsealing container, and more particularly to a self-sealing container of the type which may be shipped in collapsed form to remote destinations and easily assembled at such points.

It is often desirable to ship containers from a factory to some remote spot where the containers can be readily erected, assembled and sealed, as desired. The most desirable arrangement is to provide a container which can be readily sealed without the necessity of employing some sort of an external adhesive or mechanical fastening means for sealing the container. It is, therefore, a primary purpose of the present invention to provide a container which is completely self-contained and which can be efiiciently sealed without the necessity of employing any type of external fastening means.

A particularly effective method of providing a selfsealing container is to provide a pressure sensitive adhesive surface on one of the top and bottom closure flaps of the container such that the top and bottom closure flaps may be folded over and then merely pressed together in order to provide an effective seal. At the same time, consideration may be given to the shipping problems involved when large numbers of this type of container are to be shipped to a remote location. Since large numbers of containers may be shipped together, the preferable method of shipping is to ship the containers in knocked-down or collapsed position such that a great number of them may be disposed in a relatively small space. It is apparent, however, that when shipping the containers in flattened unerected condition, the pressure sensitive adhesive surfaces present a major problem since there is a great likelihood that they will become adhesively attached to other containers in an undesired manner.

The novel container according to the present invention employs an arrangement wherein top and bottom closure fiaps are hingedly connected to the upper and lower edges of the walls of the container, one of the top closure flaps and one of the bottom closure flaps of opposed pairs preferably of substantially completely overlapping flaps being provided with an adhesive surface. A removable masking means is disposed adjacent this pressure sensitive adhesive surface for preventing contact therewith prior to sealing the closures, and preferably is in the form of a thin sheet of non-adhesive masking material which overlies the adhesive surface. In this manner the adhesive surface is prevented from contacting any other surface to which it might become adhesively attached during shipping or handling of the container in collapsed form.

When it is desired to erect the container, the masking material is removed from the adhesive surface in order to expose the surface such that the overlapping top and bottom closure flaps can be sealed in operative position. The thin sheet of masking material closely overlies the associated adhesive surface, and cannot ordinarily be readily grasped. It is, therefore, essential in practical applications to provide a means for facilitating ready removal of the masking material. According to the present invention, the means for facilitating removal of the masking material is in the form of a separate tab portion.

Each of the top and bottom closure flaps having the Patented Aug. 2%, 1961 adhesive surface thereon are provided with tabs defined by perforated score lines or other lines of weakness extending inwardly from the lateral edges of the flaps. The masking material extends over each of these tabs and is adhesively secured thereto. The tab portions are easily removed from the associated flaps, and as the tab portion is pulled away, the sheet of masking material is simultaneously pulled away from the associated flap, thereby removing the masking material and exposing the pressure sensitive adhesive surface. After removal of the masking material, the overlapping pairs of top and bottom closure flaps are merely pressed together in order to provide permanent top and bottom seals for the container.

An object of the present invention is to provide a new and novel self-sealing container which requires no external means for completely sealing the container and a novel blank which can be quickly and easily erected to form a container.

Another object is the provision of a container blank for forming a self-sealing container which blank can be partially assembled, collapsed and efficiently shipped in flattened unerected condition and which enables a plurality of flattened blanks to be shipped as a package while the blanks are in flattened condition.

A further object of the invention is to provide a self-sealing container having pressure sensitive closure flap securing means which is norm-ally inoperative until it is desired to seal the container.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a self-sealing container having masking means for the pressure sensitive securing means, the masking means being quickly and easily removable.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a self-sealing container which is simple, inexpensive and compact in construction, and yet which is efficient and reliable in operation.

Other objects and many attendant advantages of the invention will become more apparent when considered in connection with the specification and accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a container blank according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates the blank shown in FIG. 1 in partially assembled flattened position;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the partly erected container and the mode of removing the masking material therefrom; and,

FIG. 4 illustrates the manner of sealing the top and bottom closure rflaps.

Referring now to the drawing wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, there is shown in FIG. 1 a container blank 10 formed of conventional container material such as paperboard or other bendable material. The blank comprises a unitary piece of material including a number of panels and flaps which are defined by score lines formed in the blank in a conventional manner.

A preferred form of the blank 10 includes four panels 11, 12, 13 and 14 separated from one another by substantially parallel vertical score lines indicated by dotted lines 15, 16 and 17. An attaching flap 26 is formed integral with one side edge of panel 11 and a score line 21 is formed between panel 11 and flap 20 for enabling the flap to be folded at substantially right angles to the panel.

Panels 11, 12, 13 and 14 are provided with upper edges defined by continuous horizontal score lines 11, 12', 13 and 1-4 respectively. In a similar manner, panels 11, 12, 13 and 14 are provided with lower edges defined by continuous horizontal score lines 11", 12", 13" and 14" respectively. Hingedly connected to panels 11, 12, 13

and 14 along the upper edges thereof are top closure flaps 30, 31, 32 and 33 respectively. Hingedly connected to panels 11, 12, 13 and 14 along the bottom edges thereof are bottom closure flaps 35, 36, 3'7 and 38 respectively. It is to be understood that each of the top and bottom closure flaps are separated from one another along the lateral edges thereof by slits or slots extending inwardly preferably to the top and bottom edges of the associated panels whereby each of the top and bottom closure flaps can be independently bent downalong the upper and lower edges of the associated panels for closing the erected container.

Flaps 30, 32, 35 and 37 are of substantially the same dimensions and the width thereof, as indicated by the arrows and letter w in FIG. 1, is substantially equal to the length of the top and bottom edges of the panels 12 and 14. Flaps 31, 33, 36 and 38 areof substantially the same dimensions, and the width thereof as indicated by the arrows and letter w in FIG. 1 is preferably substantially one-half the length of the top and bottom edges of panels 11 and 13.

Top closure flap and bottom closure flap connected to panel 11 have tab portions 40 and 41 formed in a lateral edge for example edges 30" and 35 respectively. Tabs 40 and 41 are each preferably of substantially semi-circular configuration but may be of other suitable shapes and are defined by perforated or other forms of lines of weakness indicated by reference numerals 42 and 43 respectively which enable the tab portions to be readily removed from the associated panels.

A pressure sensitive adhesive substance is disposed on the surface of each of flaps 30 and 35, the adhesive surfaces of each of flaps 30 and 35, the adhesive surfaces being indicated by reference numerals and '51. These adhesive surfaces may be formed by applying a conventional well known pressure sensitive adhesive substance to the flaps 30 and 35. Only portionsof the adhesive surfaces are shown in FIG. 1, but it should be understood that the adhesive surface covers a substantial area and may, for example, be of substantially rectangular configuration similar to that of the flaps 30 and 35, the adhesive substance being disposed over an area defined by lines which may be formed parallel to and spaced inwardly of the outer edges of the flaps 30 and 35 or of other suitable configurations. It is also apparent that the adhesive substance covers not only the central portions of flaps 30 and 35 but also the inner portions of tabs 40 and 41.

An important feature of the present invention is the provision of a masking means for normally preventing undesirable contact with the pressure sensitive adhesive surfaces 50 and '51 prior to closing the container. As seen in FIG. 1, this means comprises thin sheets of substantially a non-adhesive masking material indicated by reference numerals 52 and 53 disposed in overlying relationship to the adhesive surfaces 519 and 51 respectively. This masking material may be of various conventional masking materials and is preferably provided with a smooth surface which will stick to the pressure sensitive adhesive surface sufiiciently to maintain the masking material in position and yet which permits the masking material to be readily removed from the associated adhesive surface when desired for closing the ends of the container.

It should be noted that the sheets of masking material 52 and 53 are of substantially the same size and configuration as the adhesive surfaces 50 and '51, the masking sheets being preferably slightly larger than the adhesive surfaces to insure that no portion of the adhesive surface is exposed. It is also evident that a portion of each of the sheets of masking material as seen in FIG. 1 is disposed in overlying relationship to the associated tabs 40 and 41 whereby the sheets of masking material are adhesively attached to the tabs 40 and 41. It is apparent that when the masking means is in operative position as 4 seen in FIG. 1, the blanks may be safetly shipped in flattened position without any danger of the adhesive surfaces becoming attached to any other surfaces.

Although the blanks may be shipped in a single thickness as shown in FIG. 1, the blanks are preferably initially pre-assembled at the factory as shown in FIG. 2 such that the attaching flap 20 is secured to the under surface of panel 14, and the blank then flattened into a double thickness. This is desirable since the attaching flap is then permanently secured to panel 14 and no further attaching is necessary between flap 20 and panel 14 or other elements at the point of use until the top and bottom closure flaps are ready to be secured together. At the same time, the container remains in a very flat relationship and occupies a minimum of space.

Referring now to 'FIG. 3 of the drawing, the mode of assembling and erecting the container is illustrated. Since attaching flap 20 has already been secured to panel 14, the container may be initially opened from its collapsed state to provide a substantially rectangular shape as seen in FIG. 3 with the top and bottom closure flaps extending in substantially the same planes as the associated panels 1-1, 12, 13 and 14. The sheets of masking material may then be quickly and easily removed from the associated panels 30 and 35 by grasping the tab portions between the thumb and forefinger as illustrated in FIG. 3,. whereby the edge portion of the associated masking material will be clamped between the fingers of the person removing the tab, the sheet of masking material being adhesively attached to the tab to thereby doubly insurethat the masking material will come away with the associ-ated tab portion. Since the tab portions are defined by perforated or other lines of weakness, they are readily removed from the associated panels, and the sheet of masking material is peeled back, thereby exposing the underlying pressure sensitive adhesive surface.

The bottom closure flaps 36 and 38 are then folded right angularly inwardly. The bottom closure flap 35 is folded inwardly in overlying relationship to flaps 36 and 33 and flap 37 folded over and pressed against flap 35, sealing the bottom closure. The container may now be loaded. To close the top of the container, flaps 31 and 33 are folded right angularly inwardly and flap 30 folded flatwise over the folded flaps 31 and 33. This. position of closure flap 30 is seen most clearly in FIG. 4 of the drawing, a portion of closure flap 33 being visible through the semi-circular cut-out in flap 30 which is left by removal of the tab 40. Top closure flap 32 is then pressed downwardly against flap 30 whereby the under surface of top closure flap 32 is effectively sealed to the pressure sensitive adhesive surface of closure flap 30 completing the sealing of the container ends.

After the aforementioned operations are carried out, it is evident that a completely sealed container is pro vided without the necessity of employing any external attaching or fastening means. The unerected containers may be efficiently shipped as a package in flattened nested position, one on top of the other, without the danger of certain surfaces becoming undesirably attached to one another. The pressure sensitive securing means of the present invention is inoperative until it is desired to seal the container, and the masking means for the pressure sensitive securing means can be quickly and easily removed. In addition, the self-sealing container according to the present invention is quite simple, inexpensive and compact in construction, and yet is efficient and reliable in operation.

As this invention may be embodied in several forms without departing from the spirit or essential charactcristics thereof, the present embodiment is therefore illustrative and not restrictive, and since the scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims, all changes that fall within the metes and bounds of the claims or that form their functional as well as conjointly cooperative equivalents are therefore intended to be embraced by those claims.

In the claims:

1. A self sealing container comprising a plurality of interconnected side walls having upper and lower edges, top closure flaps hingedly connected to said upper edges, bottom closure flaps hingedly connected to said lower edges, at least one of said top closure flaps and at least one of said bottom closure flaps having a pressure sensitive adhesive substance disposed on substantially the entire surface thereof, a thin sheet of releasably adhered masking material disposed in completely overlying relationship to each of said surfaces having an adhesive substance thereon, said top and bottom closure flaps having the adhesive substance thereon also including removable tab portions defined by lines of weakness extending inwardly from the lateral edges of the closure flaps whereby the removable tab portions extend inwardly under the masking material, the tab portions being secured to the under surface of the masking material whereby the tab portions may be manually grasped for facilitating removal of the masking material.

2. A self-sealing container comprising first, second, third and fourth interconnected panels defining the side walls of a container, each of said panels having top and bottom edges, a top closure flap hingedly connected to each of said panels along the top edge thereof, a bottom closure flap hingedly connected to each of said panels along the bottom edge thereof, the top and bottom closure flaps secured to said first panel being of a width substantially equal to the length of said second and fourth panels, said top and bottom closure flaps of said third panel being substantially the same width as said top and bottom closure flaps of said first panel, said top and bottom closure flaps of said first panel including a re movable tab, the closure flaps having pressure sensitive adhesive surfaces adapted to be adhesively secured to substantially the entire under surface of the top and bottom closure flaps of said third panel, and a thin sheet of releasably adhered masking material overlying each of said adhesive surfaces including tab port-ions.

3. In a collapsible rectangular container having opposed pairs of connected together side and end walls in tubular form and closure flaps hinged to at least one end edges of the walls, the side wall flaps each being proportioned to substantially close the end opening of the tubular walls and one of said flaps including therein a tab adjacent a free edge thereof and defined by a line of weakness, the tab bearing flap having a pressure sensitive adhesive surface over substantially its entire outer surface including a portion at least of said tab, and a releasably adhered masking sheet completely covering the pressure sensitive adhesive including the tab portion, whereby said masking sheets protect said adhesive surface from contact.

4. A self-sealing container comprising a unitary member including first, second, third and fourth successively interconnected panels defining the side walls of a container, said first panel having an attaching flap formed integral with one side edge thereof, said attaching flap being attached to one side edge portion of said fourth panel, each of said panels having spaced upper and lower edges, a first t-op closure flap hingedly connected to the upper edge of said first panel, a second top closure flap hingedly connected to the upper edge of said second panel, a third top closure flap hingedly connected to the upper edge of said third panel, a fourth top closure flap hingedly connected to the upper edge of said fourth panel, a first bottom closure flap hingedly connected to the lower edge of said first panel, a second bottom closure flap hingedly connected to the lower edge of said second panel, a third bottom closure flap hingedly connected to the lower edge of said third panel, and a fourth bottom closure flap hingedly connected to the bottom edge of said fourth panel, said second and fourth top closure flaps and said second and fourth bottom closure flaps being of substantially equal width and being of a width substantially onehalf the length of the top and bottom edges of said first and third panels, said first and third top closure flaps and said first and third bottom closure flaps being of substantially the same width and being of a width substantially equal to the length of the top and bottom edges of said second and fourth panels, said first top closure flap and said first bottom closure flap including a pressure sensitive adhesive surface adapted to be sealed to the under surface of the third top closure flap and the third bottom closure flap respectively, and a thin sheet of nonadhesive masking material having a smooth wax surface which is releasably adhered to said pressure sensitive adhesive surface, and which masking material is readily removable from said pressure sensitive adhesive surface, disposed in overlying relationship to each of said adhesive surfaces for preventing contact with the associated adhesive surfaces.

5. A self-sealing container comprising a plurality of interconnected side walls having upper and lower edges, closure flap means hingedly connected to at least the edges of the walls at one end of the container, at least one of said closure flaps having a pressure sensitive adhesive substance disposed on the surface thereof, a masking means disposed in overlying relationship to said adhesive substance, said closure flap having the adhesive substance thereon also including removable tab means defined by lines of weakness extending inwardly from a lateral edge of the closure flap whereby the removable talb portion extends inwardly under the masking means, the tab portion being secured to an under surface of the masking means whereby the tab portion may be grasped for facilitating removal of the masking material, and means for closing the other end of the container.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,148,930 Roden Aug. 3, 1915 2,770,411 MacKay Nov. 13, 1956 2,871,601 Warnow Feb. 3, 1959 2,896,836 Bergstein July 28, 1959 

